What leadership style does the HR Director propose for ABC?

• A. Autocratic leadership style.
• B. A more democratic leadership style.
• C. Laissez-faire leadership.
• D. Servant leadership.

Answer: (B)

Participation and decision-making in HR initiatives are being tested here. A more democratic leadership style involves consulting team members, encouraging input, and shared decision-making. In ABC’s context, this fosters engagement, ownership, and smoother adoption of HR policies because people see their views reflected and feel responsible for outcomes. Autocratic leadership cuts off input, can speed decisions but often undermines commitment and morale. Laissez-faire gives too much freedom and can result in a lack of direction and inconsistent HR practices. Servant leadership emphasizes serving employees and enabling their growth, which is valuable, but without a structured, participative approach, it may not secure the collective buy-in needed for organization-wide changes. Therefore, the proposed democratic approach best supports effective change management and employee buy-in.